Sprinter Sets New Korean Record in 100-m Dash

Kim Kuk-young finishes the men's 100-m sprint at the Summer Universiade in Gwangju on Thursday.

Sprinter Kim Kuk-young has set a new Korean record in the men's 100-m sprint.

Kim finished his semifinal race in 10.16 seconds at the Summer Universiade in Gwangju on Thursday, 0.07 seconds faster than the previous record set by himself during a national championship in June 2010.

The result also qualified him for the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next year.

"It's great to break my own record, and it's even better to qualify for the Olympics," he said. "I will try to run under 10 seconds."

In his final race the same day, Kim ranked sixth out of eight runners with 10.31 seconds. South Africa's Akani Simbine bagged the gold medal by finishing in 9.97 seconds, breaking the 10-second mark for the first time at a Universiade.

Meanwhile, Korea collected two gold medals on Thursday, one in women's taekwondo and the other in women's fencing, bringing the total to 30 gold medals.

With 30 gold, 23 silver and 17 bronze medals, Korea is atop the total medal count for the third straight day.